Thanks sranger, I just picked it up today!!!! They had to pick it up in NJ, (I'm in Boston) because of my particular requirements for Livery service. (Black on Black)
They drove it 270 miles and the new engine got 18.3 mpg. For a V-8, that's not bad. I'm hopping for better milage once the engine is broken in.
This vehicle is so quiet and the power of the engine is unbelievable. :shades:
I need help. A while back I saw a link in this forum for comparisons between vehicles. I can not find that post so if someone or whoever posted the link could help or re-post I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Also, Ford's own Freestyle is competitive (better MPG and bigger, too). Also, for a few bucks more, Saturn's Outlook is about to appear on the scene, getting better MPG in a bigger vehicle compared to the Edge. The Outlook has the same tranny but a slightly better 3.6L V6 (lower internal friction and higher horsepower).
We picked up a new brochure on the Edge at our local (Gwelf, Ontario) Ford dealer last night - they also have two new Edgei outside on display.
The comparison link is interesting, and points out one obvious difference that could make or break my decision (Endeavor and Santa Fe are on my short list). The difference is warranty. If Ford wants to compete with Mitsu and Hyundai, why stick to a 3/36 warranty, when you're espousing the Edge as the highest quality vehicle that you've built in some time? As a consumer, why would I voluntarily throw away the security of two additional years of warranty, just to buy a Ford?
There are good choices out there. I'd go for a Freestyle or XL7 for my money, but the others look good, too. The Edge, the subject of this forum, is almost good enough, but not quite.
All Fords now have a 5yr/60K mile powertrain warranty.
Warranty length has nothing to do with quality. When Hyundai implemented their 10 yr warranty they were at the bottom of the reliability list. Mfrs simply have to figure in the cost of warranty repairs to the overall vehicle cost. More repairs = higher cost to the mfr.
Would you rather have a longer warranty that you need to use or a shorter warranty that you never need to use?
I'd rather have the extra warranty, than have the dealership try and sell me a $2000 warranty for 3 years. If I had to spend $2000 in repairs in the first 3 years, I'd be pissed off!!!
I'd like to see a warranty that's competive. This is as much about optics as it is about reality. I'm a potential customer that's had many Hondas (and never will again!) and has never owned a Ford, but has been following Edge very closely with interest. It's on my short list along with Santa Fe and Highlander.
A warranty that is shorter than the competition causes me to doubt if the vehicle has the level of quality that others do. That's a natural consumer reaction IMHO. A lengthy powertrain warranty alone is insufficient in my books. If you want to play with the rest of the boys, then you've got to ante up when you sit down at the table.
A warranty that is shorter than the competition causes me to doubt if the vehicle has the level of quality that others do. That's a natural consumer reaction IMHO.
It might be natural but it's also wrong. Hyundai's quality was still at the bottom of the list when it began offering the 10 yr warranty. It just adds more cost to the vehicle.
I agree that it might give certain people the perception of higher quality and I'd like to see Ford go 4/50K across the board as a way to one up the competition instead of just matching it.
I forgot to mention that the Edge has the exact same warranty as the RAV4 and CRV - 3/36 bumper to bumper and 5/60 powertrain. And we all know Honda and Toyota are perceived to have the highest quality.
Ford also provides 5yr/60,000 road side assistance.
the 10yr/100,000 from Hyundai is a gimmick.
1. the warranty is NOT transferable so it doesn't apply to second owners. 2. After 5yr/60,000 there is a deductible. 3. The average American drives closer to 15,000 miles per year. Accordingly, the 100,000 miles will only last you about 6 2/3 years.
Also, for new Fords, there was a SUBSTANTIAL price reduction on Ford ESP extended warranties after Ford announced the 5/60 powertrain warranty. In most case a 100,000 warranty should be about $1,000.
My brother works at Huyndai dealer in Houston, TX. He told me be careful about the 10y/100K mile warrantee. You have to be follow exact scheduled maintain. He had some customer with broken timing belt at 60+K mile and not covered by the warrantee because he/she waited to long to replace the timing belt (we all know all other automanufacture's timing belt last at least 90+K before it breaks). Breaking timing belt is sometimes very costly (could even destroy the engine). By the way, the 3.5L in the Edge uses timing chain which will never break.
I think the biggest selling point of the Edge is style and sportiness. They're not after the people-hauling market. Think of the Edge as an CUV Mustang. People don't say, "Hey, why buy the Mustang when the Fusion has more back seat space." People don't buy the Mustang to haul around 4 people. The Edge is for someone considering a sporty sedan, but wants something more versatile than a small trunk. I think of the Edge as the sport-wagon Fusion.
10 YEAR / 100,000 MILES POWERTRAIN PROTECTION Covers most engine & transaxle components
Covers repair or replacement of powertrain components (i.e. selected Engine and Transmission/Transaxle components), originally manufactured or installed by Hyundai that are defective in material or factory workmanship, under normal use and maintenance. Coverage applies to Original Owner only effective with 2004 Model Year and newer model year vehicles. On 1999-2003 Model Years, coverage applies to Original Owner and immediate family members (i.e. wife, husband, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson).
Second and/or subsequent owners have powertrain components coverage under the 5 year / 60,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Excludes coverage for vehicles in commercial use (i.e. taxi, route delivery, delivery service, rental, etc.).
We test drove an Edge last weekend and it was certainly very comfortable for me to sit in the back row, which is an oddity at my height (6'3"). Plenty of legroom was available, even with the front passenger/driver seat all the way back. No 3rd row seat, might justify your comment about "not after the people-hauling market," but outside of my Acura TL, I haven't sat in many sedans or CUVs with as much 2nd row legroom.
Yeah, that's pretty much why the Edge has been on my radar. I'm going to be replacing a Passat W8, which has nothing wrong with it, but I'm looking to get back into an automatic, and like the increased ride height and somewhat better passenger space of the Edge. I have 3 kids, and my other car is a minivan, so I'm looking for something that is a bit more accommodating for the kids but still had some fun to drive factor. The Edge seemed like a good fit, but I'm very disappointed in the weight, among other things. We'll see how it drives though...
I find it amazing that so many people are so worried about the weight before they've even driven one. All because one car magazine mentioned it - now everyone is parroting the same line including other car magazines.
As was pointed out on another thread, forgetting AWD (which most don't need anyway) and the panaramic moonroof makes weight a non-issue if that is your primary concern. I agree with akirby, let's drive it first.
As I mentioned, I'm going to drive one before making any final decisions, but vehicle weight is fact, not some objective observation. It's as if you're saying "Why are you concerned about the mileage before even driving one?" The weight of a vehicle effects performance on many levels, including acceleration, handling, and mileage. Sure, I might drive one and think that all of these things are satisfactory, but there's no denying that a couple hundred fewer pounds would make all of these things better.
Magazines don't bring these things up to be petty; they bring them up when they think they are significant, and the weight of the Edge is a significant factor, like it or not.
The point is that weight alone doesn't mean anything. I agree it can affect things like fuel economy, braking, acceleration and handling. But you can't predict exactly how those things will be affected, so why not look at them directly? If you drive the thing and it accelerates, brakes and handles well then it's a non-issue.
The other problem is there are other vehicles that weigh even more and nobody complains about them being overweight. (all are 6 cylinder AWD models):
I do not know where you got the number, but the X3 is about 4012lb ( still too heavy to be considered sporty... ) I think you have it confused with the X5...
Typically to get good handling you need a vehicle that comes in at 3500lb or less... You can put wider tires and stiff springs to help a porker like the Edge get around a curve, but at some point either the ride or the wet traction suffers...
An extra 500lb or so is a big deal. It hurts gas milage, handling, acceleration and braking. In general, lighter is always better ( as long as it is built safe )
The original X3 is a good example of this. It is too heavy to be sporty and they put some bone jaring springs on it to make it turn and it got poor reviews and poor sales numbers...
You can scream "wait till you drive it" all you want, but physics will win the argument at some point. To put things into prespective, my old 2000 5.4L V8 Extended Cab F150 tipped the scales at 4600lb. However, it had a spray in bed liner that added about 150lb. And no, it could not be called sporty.
I think the Edge will be a quite, comfortable, roomy little mini van, but it will never be sporty...
P.S. Who would want one without the BAMER moon roof. It is the ONLY cool thing that makes the Edge different from the other mini-van in the market...
I finally got a good look at the edge and the mkx at my dealer today.....it was much larger and nicer looking than I expected. The automatic seat closer for the back seats is cool. But the seats...even the leather ones are mostly flat and have a short seat. The black leather looked like simulated leather with dimples. It looks like the same seats from the freestyle which turned me off in buying that car. My ten year old explorer has all sorts of mini pillows in the seats and ventilated leather that offer more comfort.
This may push me into the mkx which as ventilated leather and softer seats.
I do not know where you got the number, but the X3 is about 4012lb ( still too heavy to be considered sporty... ) I think you have it confused with the X5...
Typically to get good handling you need a vehicle that comes in at 3500lb or less... You can put wider tires and stiff springs to help a porker like the Edge get around a curve, but at some point either the ride or the wet traction suffers...
Nope, the X5 is closer to 5,000 lbs. I picked the X3 because depending on the year and publication, curb weights varied from just under 4,000 lbs on up.
I'm just falt astonished that people who have not turned a wheel in the vehicle could be so certain that as to the attributes under all conditions.
The ultra-sporty Volvo XC70 weighs less than 3,700 lbs. Case closed - until you drive one.
The ultra-sporty Volvo XC70 weighs less than 3,700 lbs. Case closed - until you drive one.
Your "case closed" logic is a little flawed. You can easly build a light car that is not at all sporty. You can put in soft springs and shocks and weak sway bars and it will ride big caddy, but not turn worth a darn.
However, the oppsite it far more difficult. It is much easer to make a light vehicle handle bad than it is to make a heavy vehicle handle good.
I will give the Edge a drive, but at 4500lb ( with the BAMER ) there is no way it could be considered sporty. To do so would require a bone jaring spring rate like the guys at BWM tried to pass off on the X3 that weighed at least 500lb less. Also the 200lb of glass in the roof is going to cause body lean and a rather high center of gravity. Unless Ford figured out how to alter the laws of phyisics.
I believe that the Edge will be a plesant and quite vehicle to drive, it will be a great soccer mom grocery getter and a great family vacation long hauler, but I seriously doubt that it will be called sporty.
A similar thing happened to my neighbor. He has a 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander with about 34k on it. When he took it in for service he was informed that his 10y/100k mile warranty was negated because he didn't do the 30K ( $800+ ) required scheduled maintenance on the vehicle. He said he was never informed about any required maintenance and the Dealer and Mitsubishi both told him it was HIS responsibility to read the contract. So after another 2K and 2 years left on the lease he will be on his own.
ANT14 is back! Please leak some insider news. I say that with all seriousness.
Commenting on the Top 10 engine award from Wards Automotive, I can't see how the Ford 3.5L is better than the GM 3.6L, as the fuel economy in the GM one is better. The Edge would benefit from the GM 3.6L instead of the one it has. The MPG and acceleration both would go up.
Ward's awards them according to what it is they like about the engine. Sometimes it's overall design, sometimes it's quality of the materials of it's construction, sometimes it's the performance, sometimes it's the efficiency. I guess they weren't impressed with GM's 3.6L. Also the fuel efficiency of it is determined much by the transmission, axle ratio, and computer programming.
It's all a fine science...plus as we know it, the way the EPA will determine MPG will change next year and the Escape will be one of the new vehicles to get the new "formula".
We'd been waiting for our busy schedules to provide some free time, and finally test drove an Edge on Wednesday afternoon. This was a loaded SEL model with Vista Roof and DVD navigation.
Overall, I think we were both impressed. Handling, performance, comfort, etc. were all fine. I did notice (and I'm 6 foot) that the hood felt a little long - perhaps I've been driving smaller SUV's for too long. The vehicle was obviously in need of an alignment - it kept drifting a bit to the right on all types of roads. The transmission did tend to hunt a bit when adjusting to a new fixed speed. And I particularly noticed that the steering wheel (for my taste) felt too hard - I'm used to a wheel that has some noticeable give in the wheel covering.
Overall, an enjoyable experience. Our current lease isn't up until mid-summer, so we weren't planning on jumping into an Edge immediately anyway. It will stay on our short list along with a few others, including Santa Fe / Veracruz and RX350.
Drifting to the right can be normal due to the crown of the road. I've thought I had an alignment problem several times only to have it go away on a flat surface. Did it pull that way in the parking lot?
It wasn't your imagination antoninb. The Ford Edge I test drove wasn't drifting at all. I let go of the steering wheel and no drift at all. The old excuse of "road crown" is a line the dealerships like to give for being lazy and not giving an alignment. Don't believe it. Sick of hearing about that excuse too.
Nothing on the one i test drove. Nice and straight. And yes I was on crowned roads too. I test drove a base Edge (s-model I believe).. It didn't have the michelin tires, but Hankook (korean) tires.. Maybe that made a difference.
Drifting to the right can be normal due to the crown of the road. I've thought I had an alignment problem several times only to have it go away on a flat surface. Did it pull that way in the parking lot?
We noticed it consistently on a variety of surfaces, and beginning at typical "city street speed". However it was a gentle veering, and only occurred when I took my hands off the wheel (which I assure you I'm not in the habit of doing frequently). I don't consider it a concern, since I know these vehicles had only been at the dealer for a few days, and had not yet been fully dealer prepped.
A couple of days ago my wife and I drove an Outlook and an Edge back to back. The Edge we drove did not "drift" at all on any road surfaces. I had it up to about 80 on the interstate and found it's steering quite nice. In fact, it was the only thing I liked about the vehicle. Although my wife thought the Outlook was too big for our current needs, it was much more quiet and well appointed than the Edge. Overall, the Outlook exceeded my expectations and the Edge was a disappointment to me. I'm going to hold off for the CX-9, or next generation Highlander before we ditch our Pilot.
My Edge (SEL Plus) has arrived and I am crazy over it! I ordered it Aug. 4 from a dealership in Upper Michigan. It arrived Friday, Dec. 22 and I flew up Dec. 26 to picked it up. Mine was the first one they'd seen at the dealership. They had ordered mine and one for them but could only got mine. The owner had to take it for a drive and the salesman that sold me the car had to drive it. They were nuts about the car and wished they could have kept it for a few more days to show it off. I drove it back home yesterday (1100 miles) and I only have one word for it..FANTASTIC! When I got to St. Louis I took I-44 West to Springfield, MO; I got off onto Hwy 65 to Branson, Mo and on to Harrison, AR; from there I took Hwy 7 all the way down the mountain in the rain. If anyone is familiar with that highway, then you know its all sharp hills and curves. At times you can almost see yourself coming. The Edge was remarkable at the way it handled those curves. The car certainly has the power too. When climbing those hills on the interstate from St. Louis to Springfield, Mo., you could feel the horsepower kick in with real ease and the car never missed a beat. I love the way all the controls for the radio, heat and media are located on the steering wheel. Gas mileage is not really a concern of mine but I know it is for some so I'll tell you what my Edge got. I got 22.5 miles on the interstate and 20.1 mpg coming down the mountain on Hwy 7. The Vista roof is awesome...very sharp looking. What an engineering feat that was. Now, was there anything I found wrong with car? I'd say yes. There is a blind spot on both sides of the car that is definitely going to take some getting use to for me. Twice I had a car come up on my left side (passing) that I never saw them in either the rear view mirror or the side mirror when I checked. It was like all of a sudden they were just there. It could be I am just used to all the big windows down the sides of my Explorer. I can say too, that with all the concerns I've been reading about the brakes, I didn't have a problem or notice a potential problem. So with all said, was the wait worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
These can be easily eliminated through proper mirror aim. If you aim the outside mirrors the way most people do, blind spots are being created.
The wrong way to aim them is to see the rear quarter panels in the mirrors. This results in all three mirrors seeing essentially the same thing. If you're interested, I can send an article on proper mirror aim.
It's good to read your positive reactions to the Edge.
"The wrong way to aim them is to see the rear quarter panels in the mirrors"
I concur with your assessment! Most, adjust our mirrors so we see the rear panels. This is just WRONG!!!!! IMHO!
You should be able to see 180 degrees to the rear between the dash rear view and the side rear view.
I adjust the side rear views far into the lanes on either side, so I can see cars approaching well beyond the side rear panels! I can still see the vehicle in the rear dash mirror, while they are visable in the side mirror. Much more visual acuity, than the way most adjust our side mirrors!
Also, by the time the vehicle is next to me, my side view still has the middle/rear of the car, while my peripheral vision, now has it in my field of view. This, also allows you to check the vehicles behind you frequently, with only eye movement and NOT head movement!!
Remember, head movement is MUCH slower than eye movement!!!!!! It takes less than a second to DIE at 60 MPH!!!
At 60 MPH, you're traveling @ 88 feet p/second!
At 80 MPH, you're traveling at 120 feet p/second!!!! (That's quite a few car lengths!!)
I know, most reflexes, are not quick enough to respond at these speeds, (scares the [non-permissible content removed] out of me!!!) especially the way most people drive...that is to say....@ 80 MPH......traveling LESS than the safe stopping distance required between vehicles, if the person up ahead OMG!!!!!...does an unexpected move!!!! (You're Screwed!!!)
If you're driving @ 75 MPH and less than 10 car lengths behind the car in front of you and there's a sudden accident ahead ........you have less than a second to avoid it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Driving livery, to the tune of 75,000 miles a year... I've found,.... I, like most of us, live life with certain assumptions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One I'm familiar with is....Do the people around us,...KNOW HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY???????!!!!!!
I hope my driving experience helps avoid TROUBLE on the road!!
I have read somewhere that the Edge's 6F transaxle has a variable displacement ATF oil pump so that fluid doesn't have to be bypassed at high engine RPM but will still supply enough pressure/flow with the engine at idle.
Does anyone know how this was done, which technique?
Obviously this would increase the overall transaxle efficiency somewhat but I suspect that its real purpose is to overcome the throttle lag programmed into the DBW, e-throttle, system in earlier FWD vehicles. The 1-2 second delay was to give the transaxle clutches more time to fully seat with the engine at idle and thereby very little ATF pressure.
"The 2007 Ford Edge is certainly the kind of vehicle we need in our test fleet. It offers best-in-class horsepower and torque, competitive fuel economy, ULEV-certified air emissions, available all-wheel drive and a treasure trove of safety features."
Comments
They had to pick it up in NJ, (I'm in Boston) because of my particular requirements for Livery service. (Black on Black)
They drove it 270 miles and the new engine got 18.3 mpg.
For a V-8, that's not bad.
I'm hopping for better milage once the engine is broken in.
This vehicle is so quiet and the power of the engine is unbelievable. :shades:
If you send me your e-mail I cut and paste it to you.
porciniman@comcast.net
This link compares the Edge to a few:
Comparison Edge/Murano/Endeavor/XL7/SantaFe
Also, Ford's own Freestyle is competitive (better MPG and bigger, too). Also, for a few bucks more, Saturn's Outlook is about to appear on the scene, getting better MPG in a bigger vehicle compared to the Edge. The Outlook has the same tranny but a slightly better 3.6L V6 (lower internal friction and higher horsepower).
The comparison link is interesting, and points out one obvious difference that could make or break my decision (Endeavor and Santa Fe are on my short list). The difference is warranty. If Ford wants to compete with Mitsu and Hyundai, why stick to a 3/36 warranty, when you're espousing the Edge as the highest quality vehicle that you've built in some time? As a consumer, why would I voluntarily throw away the security of two additional years of warranty, just to buy a Ford?
Warranty length has nothing to do with quality. When Hyundai implemented their 10 yr warranty they were at the bottom of the reliability list. Mfrs simply have to figure in the cost of warranty repairs to the overall vehicle cost. More repairs = higher cost to the mfr.
Would you rather have a longer warranty that you need to use or a shorter warranty that you never need to use?
I'd rather have the extra warranty, than have the dealership try and sell me a $2000 warranty for 3 years.
If I had to spend $2000 in repairs in the first 3 years, I'd be pissed off!!!
A warranty that is shorter than the competition causes me to doubt if the vehicle has the level of quality that others do. That's a natural consumer reaction IMHO. A lengthy powertrain warranty alone is insufficient in my books. If you want to play with the rest of the boys, then you've got to ante up when you sit down at the table.
It might be natural but it's also wrong. Hyundai's quality was still at the bottom of the list when it began offering the 10 yr warranty. It just adds more cost to the vehicle.
I agree that it might give certain people the perception of higher quality and I'd like to see Ford go 4/50K across the board as a way to one up the competition instead of just matching it.
Ford also provides 5yr/60,000 road side assistance.
the 10yr/100,000 from Hyundai is a gimmick.
1. the warranty is NOT transferable so it doesn't apply to second owners.
2. After 5yr/60,000 there is a deductible.
3. The average American drives closer to 15,000 miles per year. Accordingly, the 100,000 miles will only last you about 6 2/3 years.
Also, for new Fords, there was a SUBSTANTIAL price reduction on Ford ESP extended warranties after Ford announced the 5/60 powertrain warranty. In most case a 100,000 warranty should be about $1,000.
Mark.
POWERTRAIN PROTECTION Covers most engine & transaxle components
Covers repair or replacement of powertrain components (i.e. selected Engine and Transmission/Transaxle components), originally manufactured or installed by Hyundai that are defective in material or factory workmanship, under normal use and maintenance. Coverage applies to Original Owner only effective with 2004 Model Year and newer model year vehicles. On 1999-2003 Model Years, coverage applies to Original Owner and immediate family members (i.e. wife, husband, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson).
Second and/or subsequent owners have powertrain components coverage under the 5 year / 60,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Excludes coverage for vehicles in commercial use (i.e. taxi, route delivery, delivery service, rental, etc.).
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/global/warranty/warranty.aspx
And the 4500 lb BMW X3?
Magazines don't bring these things up to be petty; they bring them up when they think they are significant, and the weight of the Edge is a significant factor, like it or not.
The other problem is there are other vehicles that weigh even more and nobody complains about them being overweight. (all are 6 cylinder AWD models):
Edge - 4282
Acura MDX - 4539
BMW X5 - 4982
VW Touareg - 5168
Typically to get good handling you need a vehicle that comes in at 3500lb or less... You can put wider tires and stiff springs to help a porker like the Edge get around a curve, but at some point either the ride or the wet traction suffers...
An extra 500lb or so is a big deal. It hurts gas milage, handling, acceleration and braking. In general, lighter is always better ( as long as it is built safe )
The original X3 is a good example of this. It is too heavy to be sporty and they put some bone jaring springs on it to make it turn and it got poor reviews and poor sales numbers...
You can scream "wait till you drive it" all you want, but physics will win the argument at some point. To put things into prespective, my old 2000 5.4L V8 Extended Cab F150 tipped the scales at 4600lb. However, it had a spray in bed liner that added about 150lb. And no, it could not be called sporty.
I think the Edge will be a quite, comfortable, roomy little mini van, but it will never be sporty...
P.S. Who would want one without the BAMER moon roof. It is the ONLY cool thing that makes the Edge different from the other mini-van in the market...
Click Here
This may push me into the mkx which as ventilated leather and softer seats.
p.s. couldn't test drive as it was the only unit.
Typically to get good handling you need a vehicle that comes in at 3500lb or less... You can put wider tires and stiff springs to help a porker like the Edge get around a curve, but at some point either the ride or the wet traction suffers...
Nope, the X5 is closer to 5,000 lbs. I picked the X3 because depending on the year and publication, curb weights varied from just under 4,000 lbs on up.
I'm just falt astonished that people who have not turned a wheel in the vehicle could be so certain that as to the attributes under all conditions.
The ultra-sporty Volvo XC70 weighs less than 3,700 lbs. Case closed - until you drive one.
Your "case closed" logic is a little flawed. You can easly build a light car that is not at all sporty. You can put in soft springs and shocks and weak sway bars and it will ride big caddy, but not turn worth a darn.
However, the oppsite it far more difficult. It is much easer to make a light vehicle handle bad than it is to make a heavy vehicle handle good.
I will give the Edge a drive, but at 4500lb ( with the BAMER ) there is no way it could be considered sporty. To do so would require a bone jaring spring rate like the guys at BWM tried to pass off on the X3 that weighed at least 500lb less. Also the 200lb of glass in the roof is going to cause body lean and a rather high center of gravity. Unless Ford figured out how to alter the laws of phyisics.
I believe that the Edge will be a plesant and quite vehicle to drive, it will be a great soccer mom grocery getter and a great family vacation long hauler, but I seriously doubt that it will be called sporty.
Commenting on the Top 10 engine award from Wards Automotive, I can't see how the Ford 3.5L is better than the GM 3.6L, as the fuel economy in the GM one is better. The Edge would benefit from the GM 3.6L instead of the one it has. The MPG and acceleration both would go up.
It's all a fine science...plus as we know it, the way the EPA will determine MPG will change next year and the Escape will be one of the new vehicles to get the new "formula".
Overall, I think we were both impressed. Handling, performance, comfort, etc. were all fine. I did notice (and I'm 6 foot) that the hood felt a little long - perhaps I've been driving smaller SUV's for too long. The vehicle was obviously in need of an alignment - it kept drifting a bit to the right on all types of roads. The transmission did tend to hunt a bit when adjusting to a new fixed speed. And I particularly noticed that the steering wheel (for my taste) felt too hard - I'm used to a wheel that has some noticeable give in the wheel covering.
Overall, an enjoyable experience. Our current lease isn't up until mid-summer, so we weren't planning on jumping into an Edge immediately anyway. It will stay on our short list along with a few others, including Santa Fe / Veracruz and RX350.
Nothing on the one i test drove. Nice and straight. And yes I was on crowned roads too. I test drove a base Edge (s-model I believe).. It didn't have the michelin tires, but Hankook (korean) tires.. Maybe that made a difference.
We noticed it consistently on a variety of surfaces, and beginning at typical "city street speed". However it was a gentle veering, and only occurred when I took my hands off the wheel (which I assure you I'm not in the habit of doing frequently). I don't consider it a concern, since I know these vehicles had only been at the dealer for a few days, and had not yet been fully dealer prepped.
So with all said, was the wait worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely.
The wrong way to aim them is to see the rear quarter panels in the mirrors. This results in all three mirrors seeing essentially the same thing. If you're interested, I can send an article on proper mirror aim.
It's good to read your positive reactions to the Edge.
I concur with your assessment!
Most, adjust our mirrors so we see the rear panels.
This is just WRONG!!!!! IMHO!
You should be able to see 180 degrees to the rear between the dash rear view and the side rear view.
I adjust the side rear views far into the lanes on either side, so I can see cars approaching well beyond the side rear panels!
I can still see the vehicle in the rear dash mirror, while they are visable in the side mirror.
Much more visual acuity, than the way most adjust our side mirrors!
Also, by the time the vehicle is next to me, my side view still has the middle/rear of the car, while my peripheral vision, now has it in my field of view.
This, also allows you to check the vehicles behind you frequently, with only eye movement and NOT head movement!!
Remember, head movement is MUCH slower than eye movement!!!!!!
It takes less than a second to DIE at 60 MPH!!!
At 60 MPH, you're traveling @ 88 feet p/second!
At 80 MPH, you're traveling at 120 feet p/second!!!!
(That's quite a few car lengths!!)
I know, most reflexes, are not quick enough to respond at these speeds, (scares the [non-permissible content removed] out of me!!!) especially the way most people drive...that is to say....@ 80 MPH......traveling LESS than the safe stopping distance required between vehicles, if the person up ahead OMG!!!!!...does an unexpected move!!!! (You're Screwed!!!)
If you're driving @ 75 MPH and less than 10 car lengths behind the car in front of you and there's a sudden accident ahead ........you have less than a second to avoid it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Driving livery, to the tune of 75,000 miles a year...
I've found,....
I, like most of us, live life with certain assumptions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One I'm familiar with is....Do the people around us,...KNOW HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY???????!!!!!!
I hope my driving experience helps avoid TROUBLE on the road!!
WOW!!!!!
I guess I had too many beers!!!
Does anyone know how this was done, which technique?
Obviously this would increase the overall transaxle efficiency somewhat but I suspect that its real purpose is to overcome the throttle lag programmed into the DBW, e-throttle, system in earlier FWD vehicles. The 1-2 second delay was to give the transaxle clutches more time to fully seat with the engine at idle and thereby very little ATF pressure.
Comments?
"The 2007 Ford Edge is certainly the kind of vehicle we need in our test fleet. It offers best-in-class horsepower and torque, competitive fuel economy, ULEV-certified air emissions, available all-wheel drive and a treasure trove of safety features."
Long-Term Test: 2007 Ford Edge